Over 1,300 Innovative Makers Will Be Exhibiting at the Faire, May 20-22

SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwired - April 14, 2016) - Over 1,300 Makers will be putting their ingenious, innovative, and resourceful projects on display at the 11th annual Maker Faire Bay Area, the Greatest Show (and Tell) on Earth, during May 20-22, 2016, at the San Mateo Event Center in San Mateo, CA. Projects will span a wide variety of interests and industries including engineering, virtual reality, food, drones, science, health, arts and crafts, robotics, DIY, music, microelectronics, and many more. From hobbies to prototypes to new-to-market products, and everything in between, Faire goers will be able to take in the latest creations and inventions from the best of the Maker Movement. Makers provide opportunities for attendees to get hands-on interaction with their projects, learning new skills and gaining inspiration to further their own endeavors.

Cave Mapper--Young Maker, Sasha Jaffarove, will share the second version of her Cave Mapper which uses a Raspberry Pi platform to control an Arduino relay that manipulates the buttons of a Lidar laser scanning device. The Lidar measures a cave, charts it, and the result is a 3D model of the area.

OpenPian0-- OpenPian0 is collaboratively creating open sourced digital piano designs. Maker of many things, Adam French, will bring OpenPian0's first instruments to the Faire for attendees to see, hear, and play them as well as learn how digital music design works, and how they can help make more of it.

SeaCharger-- This solar-powered, autonomous boat aims to be the first unmanned surface vehicle (USV) to cross an ocean on solar power alone. The SeaCharger will be at the Faire for attendees to get a first-hand look and learn about its first trip on the high seas from California to Hawaii earlier this year.

Mechateuthis-- Mechateuthis is a large kinetic sculpture of a mechanical giant squid made by sculptor and artist Barry Crawford. Eight digitally controlled motors power the movements of the arms, beak, eyes, tentacles, and mantle fins making it a sight to behold. Attendees can observe Mechateuthis or get in on the action by turning a crank to control a movement.

Sandwriter Skryf-- This mesmerizing machine is made by Gijs van Bon, a Maker who combines a conceptual approach with theatrical engagement and technological experiments. Skryf moves forward, leaving a stream of letters in sand behind. Humans and time are responsible for the disintegration of the sand-written word.

Social Butterflies-- Created by Maker Jaki Levy, Social Butterflies are a series of "buggy" sculptures that feeds off social media. During Maker Faire Bay Area, each time there's a post to the #makerfaire social media feed, the sculpture "feeds" and lights up. Attendees can feed the interactive bugs at the Faire with their #makerfaire tagged posts.

In addition to the many Makers at the Faire, a number of specialized areas will be available for attendees to go in-depth on particular topics. Highlights of these areas include:

Aerial Sports League Drone Sports World-- Drones are the feature attraction in this interactive area dedicated to racing and education for the drone enthusiast. Combat and free flying opportunities will also be available.

Make:Activities -- This area is specially designated for children and families to get hands-on with some cool crafts, meet young Makers, and learn more about how to integrate the Maker mindset into education.

Maker to Market Pavilion -- A variety of Makers, including start-up companies, will showcase their projects as well as share their experiences on how they brought their products to fruition. Makers include PancakeBot, BRAVE Robotics, and others. Attendees can hear from these Makers on the MakerPro Stage inside the Pavilion.

New Goldsmith Sponsor, U.S. Department of Energy, to Debut at Maker Faire Bay Area 2016 with the MAKE | ENERGY Pavilion

Maker Faire is excited to announce the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)'s involvement in Maker Faire Bay Area 2016 as a Goldsmith Sponsor, showing its commitment to the Maker Movement and the innovative mindset of Makers everywhere. The DOE will be hosting the Faire's first-ever MAKE | ENERGY Pavilion where attendees can interact with scientists and Makers from DOE's national labs and advanced technology programs about transformative science projects, technology solutions, and how they can get involved in the future of energy.

In the Pavilion, a number of energy-inspired, interactive activities geared for all ages will be available including bio-fueled model boat, a renewable energy-powered smart phone charging station, and a full-scale, 3D-printed Jeep. Faire goers will be able to test their tech know-how in a fast-paced cyber security hack-a-thon challenge to protect the energy grid, learn what additive manufacturing and rocket motors have in common, see tiny blue capsules in action fighting global warming, and meet the space cops that patrol Earth's orbit and monitor space junk. DOE scientists and engineers will be ready to exchange ideas with attendees about clean energy technologies, and how careers in science and engineering are key to helping solve our nation's energy, security, environmental, and economic challenges.

About Maker FaireMaker Faire is the Greatest Show (and Tell) on Earth-a family-friendly showcase of invention, creativity, and resourcefulness, and celebration of the Maker Movement. It's a place where people of all ages and backgrounds gather together to show what they are making and share what they are learning.

Maker Faire has celebrated 150 Faires in 2015 alone and has engaged more than 1.2 million attendees globally in over 30 countries around the world. The 10th annual Maker Faire Bay Area welcomed some 1,200 Makers and 145,000 attendees. World Maker Faire New York, the East Coast flagship event, has grown in five years to 930+ Makers and 95,000 attendees.

Located in San Francisco, California, Maker Media has been widely credited with jumpstarting the worldwide Maker Movement, which has been a transforming force in innovation, culture, and education. In addition to publishing Make: magazine and producing Maker Faire, Maker Media develops "getting started" kits and books it sells through its Maker Shed store as well as other retail channels.

Calendar EditorsA celebration of DIY culture, Maker Faire Bay Area 2016 runs Friday-Sunday, May 20-22, 2016, at the San Mateo Event Center, 1346 Saratoga Drive, San Mateo, CA. Friday, 1 pm to 5 pm; Saturday, 10 am to 7 pm; Sunday, 10 am to 6 pm. Tickets range from $20.00-80.00 (ages 3 and under are free) and can be purchased at http://mfba2016.eventbrite.com. World Maker Faire New York 2016 is slated for Saturday-Sunday, October 1-2, at the New York Hall of Science in Queens, New York. More information about Maker Faire can be found at http://www.makerfaire.com.